What is a Cathedral Setting Ring?

There are many things to love about a cathedral setting, from its versatility to its very affordable yet dramatic appeal. Before making the decision to go for a cathedral engagement ring, get to know how its features will work for or against your lifestyle and desired engagement ring look.

Cost-Saving Style

The cost difference between cathedral setting engagement rings and simpler styles, like a basket setting, is minimal. The additional metal and metalwork doesn’t greatly increase the price. Also, often the flourishes and uniqueness of the cathedral setting adds intrigue in place of more costly adornments like side stones or additional diamond accents.

Makes the Center Stone Pop

Aside from having beautiful and unique design elements, cathedral settings are ideal for accentuating and emphasizing your center stone. Although cathedral settings can be lower, they are traditionally known to have a higher profile, thus raising the center stone and making it appear more prominent and sometimes larger.

Works with All Styles

The cathedral setting can be intricate and ornate, or subtly decorative and simple. The nature of the cathedral is that it’s entirely customizable making it incredibly versatile for every style of design aesthetic. The arches themselves and the space between the arches and shank can be filled for a bold look, left empty for a minimalist look, or embellished with filigree and milgrain patterns for vintage appeal. Any personality can be reflected in a cathedral setting.

Very Durable and Secure

The cathedral setting doesn’t have a designated method for securing the center stone. This feature of the setting can be customized to achieve different looks and styles. The gemstone itself can be secured with prongs, a bezel, a tension setting or any other type of setting you desire. The additional metal of the arches also helps to reinforce the metal elements holding the stone in place.

Sits Well with Wedding Bands

One of the biggest benefits to a cathedral setting engagement ring is that it usually works perfectly when stacked with a wedding band. The raised nature of the design allows the wedding band to easily nestle underneath the stone and flush against the engagement ring band. An anniversary band can also be added later to the top to create a stacked look.

More Difficult to Clean

While cleaning of your engagement ring should be performed by a professional at least once a year, cleaning that you do at home in between those visits is harder to do with a cathedral setting. The small, open crevices in a cathedral setting are prone to trapping dirt and debris, especially if you don’t remove your ring when applying makeup or lotion, or when washing hands. You’ll likely be cleaning your ring more often and the tucked away areas will be harder to clean effectively.

Snags and Bumps Are Common

The distinctive and dramatic raised look of the cathedral setting also means it has a great chance of getting snagged on clothes, furniture, and hair. It’s also more likely to be bumped and banged as you go about daily activities. The strong and durable nature of the setting make it suitable for everyday wear, but it’s good to have some extra care and awareness when you have it on.

When choosing a cathedral setting engagement ring, you want to keep the shape of the center stone in mind. While it is a versatile setting, some cathedral setting styles can overwhelm certain stones. Your main goal should be striking a balance so the features of both the center stone and the cathedral setting exist in harmony. Also, the style and overall look of the cathedral setting will differ based on the other design elements, especially the way the stone is secured.

More active lifestyles would benefit from a lower-profile cathedral setting. This will help to limit the exposure of the center stone to bumps and breakage. But lower profile does not have to mean a less intricate or dramatic engagement ring. Case in point, our Adelane incorporates a delicately tapered pavé band with a classic cathedral style for a timeless solitaire look. And for a modern appeal, our Lorelei draws sculptural elements from nature in a vine-like, split-shank cathedral setting for a rustic and elegant look.

For those drawn to the impressive height of a cathedral setting, every design aesthetic from vintage-inspired to sleek and modern can achieve that vaulted look. For an overall vintage design, our Kenzi features hand-engraved details of milgrain and filigree with a few side stones for added sparkle. And in a nod to contemporary minimalism, our Aliss features smooth, polished metal in a classic solitaire engagement ring with subtle yet striking swirling arches to highlight a stunning center stone.

Cathedral settings can be charming, classy, surprising and endlessly unique. With their truly versatile nature and added durability, they’re an excellent choice for an engagement ring that will stand the test of time.